Biodynamic FAQ

You may have noticed “Biodynamic®” on fresh and packaged products around our store. While the seeds of Biodynamic farming germinated in the early 1900s, they have begun to flourish more widely in recent years.

Biodynamic is an exciting — and a little bit complicated — way of growing crops. The short version is: Biodynamic = food grown well. Want to know more? Read on.

What is Biodynamic® Agriculture?

It’s an ecological farming system that views the farm as a self-contained and self-sustaining organism. The health and well-being of the farm animals, the farmer, the farm and the Earth are all viewed as integral parts that make up the whole.

Focus on farm-generated, living solutions to pest control and fertility

Set aside a minimum of 10% of their total acreage for biodiversity

Must meet the National Organic Program standard as a base

Who can be certified Biodynamic?

For a farm or product to legally refer to itself as Biodynamic, it must be certified by Demeter USA, a non-profit formed in 1985 to promote Biodynamic agriculture.

In order to qualify for Demeter Biodynamic status a farm must first meet the National Organic Program as a base. Demeter also requires a careful examination and eventual reduction of the volume of imported materials necessary to sustain the life of the farm.

The Farming and Processing Standards underlying the certification enable Demeter to protect Biodynamic agriculture and in doing so, to pursue its vision of healing the planet through agriculture.

Demeter USA is a member of Demeter International, the oldest ecological certification organization, operating in 45 countries around the world.

What are Biodynamic Practices?

Here’s how Demeter explains them:

In practice, Biodynamic farming meets the organic standard including the prohibition of synthetic chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and fungicides, but then it goes much further. Emphasis is on the generation of farm inputs out of the living dynamics of the farm itself, rather than being imported from the outside. Dependence on imported materials for fertility and pest control is reduced. Water conservation is considered. Farms are required to maintain at least 10% of total acreage as a biodiversity set-aside. Riparian zones, wetlands, grasslands, and forests: all are considered an integral part of the life of the farm. Specially prepared medicinal plants, minerals, and composted animal manures help increase the vitality of the plants grown and further anchor each individual farm in time and place.

This requires that, as much as possible, a farm be regenerative rather than degenerative. Consider carefully materials that are imported onto the modern day organic farm. Where do they come from? Often they can be tracked back to a natural resource provided by the earth. Examples include petroleum to move materials around, ancient mineral deposits, by-products of unsustainable agriculture-related industry, and the life of the seas and waterways. An important social value of Biodynamic farming is that it does not depend on the mining of the earth’s natural resource base but instead emphasizes contributing to it.

What’s the Whole Foods Market connection?

Elizabeth Candelario with Demeter USA explains it like this: "Whole Foods' nationwide commitment to the development and distribution of Biodynamic products has given leading organic food companies the confidence and support they need to bring Biodynamic products to store shelves. This, in turn, provides encouragement to farmers to transition their farms to this highest form of sustainable farming. And Biodynamic products deliver on the integrity of their agricultural ingredients, providing deeply nutritious and delicious food. Healthy farms, healthy products, healthy people, healthy planet. Thanks, Whole Foods!"

For Whole Foods Market’s Grocery Coordinator Errol Schweizer, this is kind of a no brainer. He explains, “Pushing the Biodynamic segment is the logical next step in sustainability and soil fertility. Now that we have made Organics and Non-GMO household names, we are creating a niche for biodynamic products grown through the most ecologically sound methods.”

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6 Comments

Comments

Nancy Payne says ...

Bravo Whole Foods for once again standing up to do what is right for humanity! You dare go where others should: no plastic bags, no GMO, organic, and now biodynamic. It is no wonder I can not shop anywhere else.

11/09/2013 8:16:17 AM CST

Karl B. says ...

This is exactly the path that WF and other green grocers need to follow. Biodynamic is the pinnacle of superior food production and ought to be highly encouraged of all farmers. I would very much like to see Biodynamic gain the traction necessary to become at least as mainstream as Organic, if not more so.
@WF: Please continue to work with your suppliers to bring as many Biodynamic produce and product lines to market as possible! Thank you.

11/08/2014 9:20:34 PM CST

Allan Balliett says ...

Congratulations on being open to biodynamic produce! As you know, biodynamic farming has already proven in the wine industry that it produces a superior product. The same is true in table produce but since talbe produce doesn't have a critical community or meaningful 'competitions,' nobody knows it yet. Lead the way!

11/17/2014 8:40:22 AM CST

Britta says ...

I'm from Germany and stay from time to time in US. In Germany it's much easier to shop organic and even biodynamic products. Being in US, I always shop at whole foods market to get food that are real 'Lebensmittel' meaning 'matters of live', how we call food. But I miss the biodynamic flour and other products from Demeter. These are wonderful news and I hope the flour is soon available. Thanks for this approach to bring biodynamics to US! The US soil and your customers will appreciate that as I much as do.

03/01/2015 7:20:08 AM CST

Jan Duncan says ...

What biodynamic wines are sold at your Centennial store?

03/24/2015 4:53:28 PM CDT

Nikki - Community Moderator says ...

@JAN - Our vendors will differ between stores so I would suggest giving the store a call at 303-996-3660 to find out what they have in stock!

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Welcome to Whole Story, the official blog of Whole Foods Market.

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